LONDON: In a significant upset, England secured a victory over Pakistan, knocking the South Asian team out of the World Team Squash Championship. The match highlighted England’s dominance and marked a disappointing exit for Pakistan from the tournament.
An Israeli minister indicated on Wednesday that Israel might threaten to annex sections of Gaza as a strategic move to increase pressure on Hamas. This approach could deal a blow to Palestinian ambitions for statehood on territories currently under Israeli control. The statement by security cabinet member Zeev Elkin followed Britain’s announcement that it would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes measures to alleviate suffering in Gaza and reaches a ceasefire with Hamas.
France, which also plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September, along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the Arab League, issued a joint statement on Tuesday outlining steps toward a two-state solution. They emphasized that Hamas must relinquish control of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority as part of ending the conflict.
Israel has condemned moves toward Palestinian state recognition, asserting that such steps reward Hamas for its October 2023 attack that triggered the ongoing conflict.Israeli officials accuse Hamas of prolonging ceasefire negotiations to gain concessions and suggest that Israel may issue an ultimatum to Hamas to reach an agreement before intensifying military actions. Zeev Elkin told Israel’s Kan radio that “the most painful loss for our enemies is land,” emphasizing that a clear warning to Hamas—threatening to seize land that will never be returned—could serve as a powerful pressure tactic.
Efforts to mediate a ceasefire, including a proposed 60-day truce and the release of remaining captives, have stalled, with both sides blaming each other for the deadlock. International pressure on Israel intensifies as concerns over a worsening famine situation in Gaza grow. The Gaza health ministry reported seven additional hunger-related deaths on Wednesday, including a two-year-old girl with pre-existing health issues
